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If there’s one constant in this world, it’s change. When we’re young, we tend to embrace it, hurdling ourselves from one adventure to the next – with no fear. But as we get older, and the stakes seems to grow in magnitude, change becomes scary. We find ourselves muttering, “but I’ve always done it this way.” Knowing full well, perhaps in the back of our minds, that “this way” isn’t the only or even best way.

But why do we cling to that which is familiar?

Maybe it’s because the unknown is scary and while we may not be happy with the current state of things, change can be scary.

Then earlier this week, I was walking my dog and looking at the autumn leaves and thinking to myself, the world changes all around us – constantly. Maybe that makes change less scary, and more necessary. And that’s when I thought of this JFK quote:

Photo credit @prolixme, made with Enlight and WordSwag apps

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.” -JFK

A very good friend of mine once told me something about change and personal timelines that I really liked. I’m going to paraphrase and I’m sure it won’t be nearly as elegant, but here you go –

There three versions of yourself – past you, present you, and future you. For past you, be grateful that you got through all of the hard times. Be grateful of the good things you have because of the things you’ve done in the past. Your job now and moving forward is to continue to make choices and do the things that will give future you an even better life. Now, some of that may require change. And we all know that change is scary. But if it means even the chance for a better tomorrow and a better future, shouldn’t you take it?

Today, people will dress up in all kinds of costumes and go to parties and/or get free candy. But writers…

Well, writers embarking on the adventure known as NaNoWriMo will eye the clock, fingers will be poised over keyboards or over a well-loved notebook, waiting –

Waiting for that month that embodies both a writer’s sprint and marathon – National Novel Writing Month, where writers will try to pen, type, or scrawl out 50,000 words in one month.

Crazy, you say? Well, maybe.

Ill-advised? Probably, considering it’s also the start of the holiday season.

Impossible? Well, that’s where you’d be wrong. Because every November, countless writers finish first drafts of novels this month. So if you’re a writer, or a reader, this month can be pretty magical too.

And even though it’s very ill-advised, well considering I work full-time and am in graduate school, I’m going to through my pen into the ring as well. Fun fact, while I’ve never actually won NaNoWriMo, I have used to to start, finish, and revise my novels. But this year, I’m going to try to do the whole thing. Because, hey, all those other years wee just practice.😉

Since NaNoWriMo is around the corner, I’ve decided to compile a list of goodies for writers. Feel free to add any ideas in the comments, as I’m always looking for gift ideas for my writer friends (and, if I’m completely honest, for myself).🙂

1. Tools – I know that most people do a majority of their writing electronically, but many of us love the old fashioned tools. I love fancy pens and I have a whole relationship with my moleskine notebooks. If your writer is a big nerd like me, a vintage type writer or vintage typewriter accessories! Yes, please!

2. Editorial services – Any writer who has a finished product needs an editor. The longer and more complex the product, the more we need an editor. I recently paid for a developmental edit from Writer’s Digest critique and editing services, and it was worth it. You don’t have to use them, but be sure to use a reputable editor as these services tend to be pricey.

6. Beware the “how to” books – this really depends on the author. Some writers are not fans of how to books, and instead get tips from magazine, blogs, writer communities, and other online resources. But there are some really good books out there, like my absolute favorite – Stephen King’s On Writing. But again, be careful in giving advice books when not specifically asked for.

And finally: Moral support. This is the most important. Love your writer, pet your writer, tell them to keep at it, and if they ask you to read something, please do it. But whatever you do, don’t stress the word still in the following sentence: “you’re still writing that same story?” Actually, now that I think about it, you probably shouldn’t put an emphasis on any of the words in that sentence. It may make your writer cranky and in need of the aforementioned treats.

Like this:

I often pick Thursdays to showcase quotes that I love or that I’ve been thinking about. Today, I’m picking a quote on kindness, which seems to be underrated lately.

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” -Aesop

I’ve been thinking about kindness a lot lately. Not only in the recent political battles here in the U.S. and happenings on a global scale, but also in day to day life in our own local communities. Where has kindness gone?

Kindness, in some people’s minds is seen as a sign of weakness. Kindness given to strangers, unkind people, or people we don’t like is often viewed as wasted. But it’s not. Any act of kindness is worthwhile. Even small, simple actions can help to brighten someone’s day or bolster someone when they need it most. People who you disagree with, people who are different than you, nice people, friendly people, neighborhood grumps, and office cranky-pantsers – all of these people deserve kindness, after all, they are all people.

Like this:

I’m a nerd, it’s true. A nerd for graphic novels and comics, novels, and art…

And there seem to be a fair number of archers in my nerd zones lately.

There’s The Arrow, Oliver Queen in full crime fighting mode, with his love of hoodies and urgent whispers:

I mean, who doesn’t love a brooding hero who does most of his crime-fighting prep work without a shirt? But I digress..

There’s Katniss, a near goddess with the arrow and hunting, and questioner of evil authority figures –

And there are statues of goddesses with fierce aim –

So, as the nerd signs seemed to point in that direction, I decided to try my hand at archery. I even got the fierce stare down and managed to hit the bullseye multiple times.

That picture is less imposing than the other pictures, I know, but I think that the photo filter makes me a little edgier than usual.

And then I promptly realized why many archer characters have long sleeves (or aren’t nearly double jointed like me, who has a piece of arm that juts out just enough that the bow-string repeatedly whacks the area or scrapes along the skin)…

Ouch. We’re calling this one a fangirl bruise.

Next time, this fangirl is going to get some full arm protection (I only had half arm protection in the past) before I get my archery on. And don’t worry – only bullseyes and balloons (and no animals) were harmed in this fangirl-ing.

Like this:

I love quotes, especially the meaningful ones. And it’s funny, because they can show up anywhere – books, movies, tv… Sometimes, you hear them and they speak to you right away. While other times, it takes months for you to really grasp their message…maybe even years.

Today’s quote is about love (altogether now, awwwww).

I love this quote. I think that many people looking for deeper connections and love look for something similar. And I think that people who have had medicocre or unfulfilling connections look for it too.

There was a time in my life (I’m sure a time in many people’s lives), when I was willing to stay in a relationship that was unfulfilling and lonely. Why did I stay? Because I remembered the good times, because I made a promise, because it was what was expected, and to be honest – because it was what was easy. But it wasn’t right for me. And after I recovered from it, I realized that I wanted a deeper and more real connection with someone. I wanted a meaningful kind of love and partnership. And, more importantly, that I deserved to be fulfilled and happy – everyone does.

So, if you’re looking for love – I hope you find it. And if you’re lucky enough to have it already, I hope you continue to tend it and help it grow. ❤️️

Sometimes after people take advantage of you, it changes you. You worry that no one else will value you, instead of the things you can buy them or the added self-esteem boost of having someone care for them. Sometimes you screw up and kick yourself later over things you shouldn’t have done.

But regardless of the mistakes you’ve made before and regardless of the people who have hurt you before – you are worthy of love. And you are always, always worthy of happiness.

If I had a nickel for every time someone underestimated me, thought I was foolish, too nice, or stupid – I’d be a rich woman. But if I had a nickel for each time I thought that of myself, I’d be at least three times as rich…

But why do I doubt? Many years ago, I was with man who thought the world of himself – he never questioned his choices, abilities, or activities. So, I thought – maybe it’s just me.

Then, in a moment of bravery (perhaps fueled by wine and conversation), I confided in a friend – this fear of just pretending to be something, fear of failure, fear of ineptitude… and she told me I wasn’t alone. I talked with a few other women and found they felt a similar way. So, I thought – maybe it’s just us women.

Then, I left the man who thought he was perfect and after some time, I starting dating again. I found that many men had the same fears as women I knew – fears of failure or loss, not being good enough or smart enough or good looking enough. It was weird at first <wait, guys have these fears too?> but after awhile it was oddly comforting.

Then I realized something – we all have self-defeating thoughts.

You should know – no matter how beat down you feel, you’re not alone. We all question ourselves and our abilities. There are times when life will knock each of us down and there are times when we’ll want to sit down and cry with frustration (in ourselves, our screw-ups, our lives, and our limitations).

But just because we have these terrible, self-defeating thoughts – that doesn’t mean that they’re true. And it is okay to have those thoughts from time to time. Nobody can be perfectly happy, sunny, and full of self-confidence all of the time. But try to be kind to yourself – remind yourself that no one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes, things just take time.

You’ll be alright. And when you’re ready, pick yourself off of the floor and prove all of those defeating statements wrong (especially the ones that pop up in your own mind).

Carry a little hope around in your pocket – for yourself and all of the amazing things you can do.

There have been a few franchise movies that came out recently that I think of as a bit of a nostalgia tour – The Muppets (2011), Jurassic World (2015), The Force Awakens (2015), and the latest installment – Ghostbusters (2016). Some people have not enjoyed these updates, reboots, or whatever you’d like to call them, but I have. I enjoy a good nostalgia tour, especially when there are cameos from the original movie’s cast or nods to the original characters or story. But more than that, I usually love the new movie itself. As the fans who write the nostalgic movies are often excellent caretakers of the original universe of the story and have a new, fun spin on things. Ghostbusters is no different.

The story is similar and yet different from the 1984 original Ghostbusters. And it’s taken far too long, in my humble opinion, for us to see an entirely female revamp of the movie. And sadly, there were plenty of people who hated on the idea of a revamp and an all-female cast. But this movie proves all of its haters wrong.

Ghostbusters excels at the characterization of the fabulous four ghostbusting women. Their inter-personal relationships and interactions with each other are hilarious…not to mention interactions with the pretty, but inept male secretary, Kevin. I giggled through out the entire movie (and left a firm fan of Kate McKinnon, who nearly steals the entire movie). My one beef with the movie is at the very end of the climatic scene, it goes a little overly silly/cheesy (you’ll know it when you see it). But other than that, the film was supremely enjoyable. Check it out for a fun summer movie.🙂

Like this:

Get a fandom big enough, and you’ll get more fan theories than you know what to do with. As a writer or a writer for a show, fan theories have got to be a huge marker of a successful series. As a writer, it would make me positively gleeful.

Also as a writer, and what I’d call and active reader/watcher, I can’t help but theorize myself. There are times when I watch a show or read a book, and in my free minutes (of not reading, going to school, or working) I’ll puzzle through what’s coming next. There are always a lot of possibilities, a lot of things that could possibly work. But the question is, what is the one that makes the most sense and fits the story the best (yep, I really am that much of a nerd).

So, what are my theories on this – the eve of Game of Thrones Season 6 – Season finale??

Cersei’s trial – a whole lot of people are gathering at the temple in King’s landing and there have been whispers of stores of wildfire under the city. Since she can no longer get a trial by combat, Cersei’s options are severely limited. Being desperate and angry, her decision will be to burn it all down (literally). Unfortunately, Tommen is there and wearing gold (remember the witch’s prediction of all of Cersei’s children dying before her and in golden shrouds?).

Dinner with Walder Frey – this is always a bad idea. Robb can attest to this. I’ve said before that Jaime can’t survive this whole series. Is this where Jaime will meet his sticky end? Maybe Arya will make an appearance or maybe Lady Stoneheart? I’m not sure, but guests of the Frey’s don’t generally enjoy their dinners, just sayin’…

Jon’s parentage – this has been teased ALL season. While it’s possible that they’ll continue teasing us (there will be a lot of ground to cover with Cersei’s trial), I’m hoping we get a peak. Please?

Night King – we haven’t heard from/seen him in a while, maybe a quick appearance?

What will tonight’s episode of GoT bring? Can’t say for sure, but I know it’ll be a long wait until next season. And if last season is anything of a hint, we’ll be in for a serious cliffhanger. Enjoy, only a few hours to go…